Log Handling and Logging Tools

Buying guide

Cant hooks and peaveys

A cant hook uses a swinging hook and a toothed toe to grip and roll a log. On the job it lets you turn a stem so you can finish a cut without hitting dirt, and roll logs onto a trailer or into position for splitting. Aluminum handles are noticeably lighter than wood, which matters when you carry one all day.

Pick a handle length suited to the logs you normally handle: longer handles give more leverage on big stems, shorter ones are handier in tight spots.

To roll a log, set the toe under the log on the side away from you, swing the hook over the top so it bites, and pull the handle toward you. Keep your feet clear of the log's path and roll it a little at a time on slopes. On a crew, two cant hooks on the same log make big stems manageable.

Hookaroons and log grabbers

A hookaroon, sometimes called a pickaroon, has a sharp pick on a handle. Swing it into the end grain or side of a round and drag it, stack it or lift it onto a splitter without bending. A long-handled hookaroon gives more reach; a short one is better for firewood and splitting.

Log grabbers and log tongs pinch a round from both sides so you can carry it. They are handy for moving short pieces to the chipper or the truck.

Hookaroons are also handy for pulling brush toward the chipper without reaching near the infeed, though you should never feed a hookaroon into the chipper or hold one near the feed rollers. Keep the pick out of the machine and your hands well back.

Log carriers

A two-person log carrier grabs a round in the middle so two people can carry it at hip height. It is the safest way to move heavy rounds that are too big to toss but not worth bringing in a loader. Walk in step and set loads down together.

Log carriers also work well for lifting rounds onto a log splitter or the tailgate of a truck. Pick one with enough jaw opening for the size of rounds you usually handle, and keep the points sharp so they grip bark and do not slip when the load shifts.

Safe handling

Logging tools keep hands and feet out of pinch points, but they do not change the weight of the wood. Know your limits, lift with your legs, and roll or drag instead of lifting whenever possible. Keep pick points sharp so they bite and do not glance off.

Store log handling tools where the points and hooks cannot hit other gear or people, and replace worn hooks and cracked handles. A tool that slips under load can cause a fall or a crushed hand. Keep a spare hook and bolt kit for your cant hook, since those are the parts that wear first on a busy crew.